When designing a new network or mapping an existing network, document the network. At a minimum, the documentation should identify:
- Device names
- Interfaces used in the design
- IP addresses and subnet masks
- Default gateway addresses
As the figure shows, this information is captured by creating two useful network documents:
- Topology diagram - Provides a visual reference that indicates the physical connectivity and logical Layer 3 addressing. Often created using software, such as Microsoft Visio.
- An addressing table - A table that captures device names, interfaces, IPv4 addresses, subnet masks, and default gateway addresses.